Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien, 29 juillet 1805, An 13, (656): Capote de Paill (...) 1805

Curator: Today, we are examining a print titled "Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien, 29 juillet 1805, An 13, (656): Capote de Paill(...)", made in 1805, and currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. It's a delicate work in pen, drawing, and print media by Horace Vernet. What is your first reaction, Editor? Editor: It evokes a peculiar sense of controlled simplicity. The color palette is quite restrained, yet there is an undeniably romantic air around the subject, mainly expressed in the model’s slightly inclined gaze. The limited color values help draw attention to the figure. Curator: Indeed. Structurally, the composition relies heavily on the verticality of the figure, which is reinforced by the long, flowing lines of the dress. Note also the repeated use of circular and near-circular forms like the cap and the subtle dots on the fabric, providing visual unity. Editor: And let’s not ignore the titular “Capote de Paille.” These hats carried significant social weight, didn't they? Straw bonnets in particular suggested virtue and rustic charm. By the time this print was made, however, these bonnets may have begun losing favor because the hats could become quite large! This example appears quite small. Curator: You're quite right, its dimensions mark this garment in ways that communicate specific attributes. We are encountering visual symbols indicating social location, but it seems that we are encountering them here in ways which could communicate a departure from an earlier form of symbol. What could it all mean? Editor: What I find most intriguing is how it captures a moment of transition—a society eager for both simplicity and ornamentation and attempting to fuse older values into a rapidly shifting modern consciousness. Thank you, this print offers us not just a window into fashion, but into a society in flux. Curator: I concur. Through our observations, we have extracted details not just about fashion and artistic execution, but also of societal symbols represented and challenged within this relatively diminutive image.